A lecturer at Lusófona University and Nova University of Lisbon, Sara Pina, points out that electoral campaigns have entered a fourth phase, characterized by the use of personal data and citizen information. This marks a trend of “Americanization,” where campaign strategies are almost individualized.
Sara Pina argues that false information is also crafted in this micro-individualized way, tailored to each person.
Similarly, João Pedro Batista, a professor at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, notes that misinformation is prevalent in Portugal, particularly during election campaigns. He observes a significant investment from misinformation agents during these times, with corruption being a key element of misinformation strategies.
Susana Salgado, a political communication researcher at the University of Lisbon, states that distinguishing between misinformation and propaganda is often challenging, especially during elections when political content is more widespread than usual.
The researcher differentiates between propaganda and misinformation, explaining that propaganda involves biased information intended to cast a positive light on a party or candidate. In contrast, misinformation consists of deliberately created false content. She emphasizes the difficulty in distinguishing between the two, particularly when misinformation blends falsehoods with truths to enhance credibility.
In the Portuguese context, Susana Salgado highlights the lack of resources journalists face in debunking false and biased content. She notes that fact-checking alone is insufficient and can sometimes inadvertently grant more visibility to falsehoods.
Nelson Ribeiro, Vice-Rector of the Portuguese Catholic University, reflects that significant resources were once required to produce and disseminate misinformation. Nowadays, the digital environment greatly facilitates the spread of misinformation, particularly during elections.
